Number of "Czars" - Democratic Underground

dtotire

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Mon Sep-14-09 10:49 AM
Original message

Number of "Czars"

wikipedia has an article on executive branch "czars"

According to them, Clinton had 7, Bush43 had 35, and Obama has 32. They provide a list of who they are, and their positions. Good information.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._executive_branch_czars

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valerief

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Mon Sep-14-09 10:51 AM
Response to Original message

1. Isn't Czar is a media name, not a WH name? nt

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Ian David

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Mon Sep-14-09 10:57 AM
Response to Reply #1

3. Yes. We should stop calling them Czars and start calling them "Dudes." n/t

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valerief

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Mon Sep-14-09 11:00 AM
Response to Reply #3

5. LOL. Too Palinesque for me! nt

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Deja Q

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Mon Sep-14-09 11:11 AM
Response to Reply #3

10. Czars? Not auztos?

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enlightenment

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Mon Sep-14-09 10:52 AM
Response to Original message

2. That reminds me of a sign one of the protesters was carrying

on Saturday. Something about the Obama administraton having "more Czars than the USSR".

He could have ONE and still have more than the Soviet Union. Someone apparently neglected to mention the Russian Revolution to that maroon.

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oligarhy

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Mon Sep-14-09 10:57 AM
Response to Original message

4. There are no czars

The U.S. government does not have any czars at all. Not one.

It is a word used by the media and especially Glenn Beck and Fox, etc.

even the wikipedia article says it is an informal title and give their real titles.

Their official titles are Director, Assistant, Special Assistant, etc.

There are no czars.

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joeycola

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Mon Sep-14-09 11:04 AM
Response to Reply #4

6. But they are not accountable to Congress. Both parties should

eliminate them.

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lapfog_1

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Mon Sep-14-09 11:10 AM
Response to Reply #6

9. Bullshit.

Many "czars" do, in fact, have their appointed approved by Congress. It depends on their real title.

All are "accountable" in the same way EVERY government servant is accountable. Congress can require their testimony and controls the purse.

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oligarhy

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Mon Sep-14-09 11:15 AM
Response to Reply #9

12. The 'no oversight' is a repub fear tactic.

It sounds like these people are put into a czar position and then have total control over whatever the position is involved in.

All people in the U.S. government are employees, as such they are all accountable and many can be fired.

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joeycola

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Mon Sep-14-09 11:17 AM
Response to Reply #12

14. I fear Congress has abrogated its responsibility and not doing its

job. Instead, too much has been handed over to the Exec. Office. This applies to both parties.

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lapfog_1

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Mon Sep-14-09 11:05 AM
Response to Reply #4

7. Not only that, but the slang term was invented

by Richard Nixon, and promoted by the media.

And every President since has had media termed "czars".

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oligarhy

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Mon Sep-14-09 11:06 AM
Response to Reply #7

8. Usually the Repubs use them as a war on ...

Reagan and his Drug Czar (he used the term) to fight the War on Drugs.

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lapfog_1

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Mon Sep-14-09 11:11 AM
Response to Reply #8

11. The drug czar term predated Reagan.

And it's not and never has been an official title of any sort.

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oligarhy

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Mon Sep-14-09 11:17 AM
Response to Reply #11

13. I didn't pre-date reagan...

That is why I am aware of it from him, I was just old enough to start hearing that stuff.

Thank you, though.

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RedRubberBall

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Mon Sep-14-09 11:23 AM
Response to Original message

15. Senator Byrd on 'czars'

Sen. Byrd questions Obama's use of policy 'czars'

Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), who for decades has battled White House power and championed congressional clout, is questioning President Obama's appointment of "czars" to oversee key policy areas, including energy and climate.

"The rapid and easy accumulation of power by White House staff can threaten the Constitutional system of checks and balances," Byrd wrote in a letter to Obama. "At the worst, White House staff have taken direction and control of programmatic areas that are the statutory responsibility of Senate-confirmed officials."

http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/02/25/25greenwire-byrd-questions-obamas-use-of-policy-czars-9865.html

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